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BookPromo Guerrilla Style Ezine "The Ezine for Do-It-Yourself Successful Book Promotions" Past Issues Archives: http://www.zinester.com/lr/675818/13492929 Issue 16 Year 1 November 30,2006 http://guerrilla.clarylopez.com *********************************************** On this issue: ************************************************ 1- From My Desk 2- Article - The Marketing Potential Of Myspace 3- Useful Resources 4- Article – 7 Ways To Use Your Business Card 5- Article – In and Outs of Book Promotions 6- Letter to the Editor 7- Articles Submission *********************************************** From My Desk ************************************************ Last week we celebrated Thanksgiving Day and as I look back at when I started Guerrilla Marketers Caf? and this eZine to help authors promote their books, I realize that have a lot to be thankful for. I have come in contact and work with a lot of writers and authors who little by little are learning how to be more effective when they plan their promotional campaigns. Utilizing the information, free promotional ideas and services we offer some have been interviewed by newspapers, online magazines, websites, blogs and the local community. Others got into radio and found their own literary agent. I am so very proud of all of you who not only read but act upon what we share. There is still much more that I want to do. In the next few months a lot of changes will take place on the site and forum, so stay tuned. I hope you enjoy this issue in which we share about Marketing on MySpace, how to use your business Cards, and the in and outs of book promotions. Please feel free to forward this ezine to your friends and Associates. We are looking forward to serve the growing community of writers around the world. “Looking forward to help, inform and empower authors.” Best Regards, Clary Lopez Editor-in-Chief BookPromo Guerrilla Style Ezine http://guerrilla.clarylopez.com Guerrilla Marketers’ Caf? http://guerrilla.clarylopez.com/blog Blog You can contact us at: editor@clarylopez.com Subject: eZine *************************************************** The Marketing Potential Of Myspace *************************************************** by Terry Bytheway - MySpace.com is home to arguably one of the largest social networks in the world. Thousands of users join for various reasons, whether it’s to make friends, share photos and videos or to promote their own music. As the MySpace tend grows in popularity, members of the competitive marketing industry have discovered the gold mine that MySpace really is when it comes to its advertising potential. There are a number of tools and methods, which allow users to maximize their space’s marketing potential and benefit from access to such a large community. Firstly, the wider your audience, the higher success chances there are of your scheme really working. There are a number of automatic programs which allow users to collect friends and build up a strong contact list. Yet, many users find that the personal approach is better since it allows people to target their audience, even if it does take longer. This means going through a number of profiles, and friend requesting those who deem appropriate recipients to your advertising spear, even though there is a limit to how many people you add in a day. This approach is especially useful for niche businesses that cater to a significant target market. A faster, and easier way of building up your friends list, is MySpace Train. This is a script that makes users post their profile on a page, and allows other users to add them. Once full, MySpace Train is reset for more users to add the marketer. Even though it’s a very basic method, it is probably the fastest and easiest way of getting friends since there is no limit to how many requests you get. This approach is not useful for those catering to a niche market, as the friends collected in this way, are absolutely random. Once the marketer has collected and built up a large contact list that is ready to be advertised to, there are a few steps that need to be taken to ensure your “friends” interest and obligation to your persona. This is usually done by creating a captivating and interesting profile, based on your niche market. If you don’t complete a profile, most users will notice something is wrong – and will take you off their friends list. It is best if you include personal details, a few photographs and update your blog at least twice a week. Also, changing the look of your page also adds a personal touch and adds to that growing list of friends. The friend-requesting process is most successful if all these details are taken care of in the beginning. Another technique is to stay in touch with your friends and leave comments on their MySpace page. This ensures that people visit your profile regularly, and are subject to whatever marketing techniques you are employing. Once your friends list is ready, and you are a popular member of the family, it is time for the wheels to start moving. Enter- your marketing plan! One of the greatest advertising tools at your service is the bulletins option. Bulletins can be likened to forum posts, but they can’t be replied to and are only visible to users on your friends list. These are especially useful if you have a targeted list of friends. But beware that if you post too many advertising bulletins, most people will drive you to the edges of the MySpace circle and you will be subject to your friends’ annoyance. Thus, it is best that you post them in rarity, with no more than four bulletins per month. Do remember that since you have access to graphics and flash in your bulletins, try to make them original, interesting and an able vehicle that delivers your product with expertise. Another great method that is employed is mass messaging. This works well for both target and bulk marketers, since it allows a huge number of users to receive your message. Although, it is easier for those targeting a niche market, since they won’t have to send out as many messages, and the messages will be relevant and interesting for the recipients. This can be done by using an automated messaging program. It is important to write an informative message but ensure that it sounds personal and include the link to your site at the bottom of the message. If users appreciate your message and find it useful, they will probably pass it on to their friends – and thus the never-ending, profit making chain of viral marketing will commence. Today, MySpace is used by both big and small businesses and individuals in promoting their products and increasing traffic to their websites. The system is truly the newest and relatively most successful face in the world of online marketing. http://www.spacemisc.com thousands of free myspace layouts. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com ************************************************** Uselful Resources ************************************************** Creating Buzz – Book Distribution and Press Releases Top Independent Book Distributors http://www.bookmarket.com/distributors.html Express Press Release – Free Press Release Service http://www.express-press-release.com/ PRWeb – Press Release Service http://www.prweb.com/ PR.com http://www.pr.com/promote-your-business Nationwide Publicity, Pay for Results Only! http://publicityguaranteed.com/ ************************************************** 7 Ways To Use Your Business Card ************************************************** by Vanessa Shelton Business cards can be one of the most effective and least expensive marketing tools you can use. But in order for them to do the job, they've got to be well designed and you've got to get them out there into people's hands. They won't do any good in the box or in a case on the shelf. So, here are seven things to try with your business cards. 1. Give them to your personal contacts. Do all of your family and friends know about your business? They should. Your neighbors, family, friends, your hairstylist, and even the parents of your children's friends should all know what you do and have two or three of your cards. You never know who knows someone who might need your business - help them find and refer you. 2. Include a busiess card with your outgoing mail and bill payments. Doesn't most of the mail you receive include some type of advertising filler? You can use the same method with the mail you send. 3. Make your card (and your business) memorable. You can include a catchy slogan or a humorous title or tagline. Cards that include a picture, bold colors and cards printed vertically are also easier to remember. You can also give yourself a fun or bold title like "Vanessa - The Writing Wonder Woman" to help people remember you. 4. Use your business card as a coupon. I have two versions of mine, both of which use the same basic design and slogan. One tells about the services I provide. The other has all of my contact information and I use it to make special offers that I print on the card - just like a coupon. For example, if you have a retail store you could give a small free sample to customers who bring in the card. Or you could give the card with purchase for a discount on the next purchase. The customer can then use it themself to buy again (encouraging repeat business) or pass the card and discount along to someone else. 5. Post your card on every public forum you see. Grocery stores, community centers, local businesses, laundromats and many other places often have a bulletin board where people can post cards and fliers. Always have a few of your cards ready for whenever you see one of these. 6. Make sure all of your suppliers and service providers know what you do and have your card. This applies to both the business and personal services you use. 7. Give your business cards another useful purpose that will encourage prospects to keep it and refer to it often. Health care providers often use their cards as appointment reminders. One lawyer I know has printed on the back of his card a statement clients can use if they are ever stopped by the police. Insurance agents and bankers often put a calendar or rate table on theirs. A secondhand bookshop owner uses a bookmark as her business card. Be creative and think of something connected with your business or industry that will make your card multi-task for you. The goal of marketing with business cards is two-fold. First you want prospects to have your information easily available to them. Second, you want them to remember and come to you when they need your products and services. ©2006 by Vanessa Shelton Vanessa Shelton is an independent copywriter and marketing consultant who specializes in helping small and home-based business owners start strong, operate successfully, and grow profits. To learn more about Vanessa's service or to read more tips, visit her website at http://www.VanessasDesk.com. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com ************************************************** Visit our Blog: Guerrilla Insight for Authors http://www.zinester.com/lr/675819/13492929 ************************************************** In and Outs of Book Promotions ************************************************** by Clary Lopez The time to think about your book promotion is before you start writing it. When you consider your book subject you should consider how big an audience the book might have. Then you need to know where and how to reach that audience. After doing your initial research and deciding that you have a strong audience for the book then you should look at your competition. Find books that have been published with the same theme and see how you can improve or provide even more valuable information not even offered in them. If you are planning to submit the book to publishers make note of who published those books, it’s a good chance that they might be open to publish another book on a proven successful theme. When you start thinking about outlining your book content think of promotional features to integrate with your book like a CD version, workbook, questionnaire, book club discussion questions, a free report to be downloaded on your website, etc. You want your audience to get in touch with you, in that way you’ll have a way to communicate with them about book signings, contests, workshops or new book releases. Always include your website and e-mail address in your books. Wouldn't it be nice to finish your book, publish it and go on to write the next one? I think it is every writer’s dream; however it is not the way it works. To be a successful writer you must treat your craft like any other business. You not only need to produce a product you need to market it. Marketing doesn't come naturally to many people but it is an integral part of what we need to do to make money. By being a business owner I've learned the quickest way to be successful is to study others who are successful. I'm always looking for the shortcut; I don't have time to waste. Networking off and online is a great way to learn your craft. Meeting and sharing experiences with those who are doing what you do and most of all who had some success will help you reach your goals quicker. There are many ways to connect with other people for one the internet has broken the barrier of time and space. You can communicate globally with like-minded people at any given time. You can communicate by e-mail, instant messaging, chat rooms, weblogs, community sites, your website, forums and discussion boards but you must learn how to take advantage of these opportunities to get the results you want. I’ve seen many authors who sign up for every group, forum, promotions site under the sky and then walk away from it. That your book can be in many sites online doesn’t mean necessarily that your audience will find it. Your participation in such groups and sites is integral to the success of your promotions. Some authors start weblogs which they quickly abandon or lose focus of the weblog’s theme and start going in twenty different directions. To reach your audience, pick your theme or topic for your weblog and stick with it, then post on it regularly. Networking off-line is also important. You must know your audience and where to find it. Joining writers associations, the Chamber of Commerce, nonprofit organizations related to your interests and any other business associations will put you in front of those more likely to accept your message helping you promote your work effectively. What I’ve shared with you is just the tip of the iceberg, there is a lot more to learn about book promotion. I would like to say there is no better way than meeting with people who have traveled the path and have been successful at it. Look for ways to find them, read about them and join them in groups and associations and don’t be shy about joining in the discussions. The stupidest question is the one that is never asked. An intelligent question might spark a discussion of something integral to the success of all its members but only if they put it into action. ************* Clary Lopez is the CEO/Founder of Guerrilla Marketers Caf?, Free Book Promotion site. She is an author, moderator and publicist. You can contact her at guerrilla@clarylopez.com or join her on her sites http://guerrilla.clarylopez.com, http://www.lulu.com/guerrilla and her official author site http://clarylopez.com e-mail prdept@clarylopez.com ************* (Copyright by Clary Lopez, 2006. Reprint Rights granted to those who will post it in its entirety including the byline and without changing any of its content) ************************************************** Letter to the Editor ************************************************** Let us know how we are doing and what you would like to read about, so send us your comments and suggestions to be included on this section. editor@clarylopez.com Subject: Letter to the Editor Do you have an idea for a topic on this eZine? Send it to ideas@clarylopez.com Subject: Ezine idea *************************************************** Articles Submission *************************************************** If you would like to write an article for this Ezine please send your request to: editor@clarylopez.com Subject: Article Submission *************************************************** BookPromo Guerrilla Style Ezine Copyright 2006, Clary Lopez All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Clary Lopez will not be held liable for any direct or indirect losses or damages originating from the use of any information listed on our website, newsletters or eZine. By using this site and ezine you agree to indemnify and hold all owners and representatives parties of Clary Lopez/Guerrilla Marketers' Cafe harmless from any claim or demand originating out of your use of Clary Lopez/Guerrilla Marketers' Cafe website and/ newsletters or eZine. Use of our website, Newsletter and eZine is and indication of your complete understanding and acceptance of these Terms of Service. Articles can be reproduced on websites or ezines as long as the article and bylines are included without any alterations. No part of the website can't be reproduced in any form or by electronic or mechanical means including information storage or retrieval systems without the written permission from the publisher/owner. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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